Cold Atmospheric Plasma Devices in Medicine: Narrative Review of Mechanisms, Applications, and Translational Perspectives

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) stands out as not only a new way to advance health, but also as a unique multidisciplinary research category involving physics, engineering, and biology/medicine. This narrative review examined published peer-reviewed literature from 1998 to 2025 to define the changing cut-off for CAP device design, parameters, and translational applications, with articles found via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science employing purposive sampling and quality classification according to relevance. Two major classes of CAP devices (i.e., dielectric barrier discharge, plasma jets), and surface micro-discharges are reviewed with respect to their physical characteristics, spatial homogeneity, and ability to generate reactive species; these characteristics are then related to their biomedical applications; their use in wound healing, antimicrobial treatments, dentistry, and oncology. Considerations of safety and regulatory aspects were also discussed, with early studies suggesting good safety and tolerability. Ultimately, CAP devices provide a versatile approach to health and as an evolving platform to provide medical interventions. It is noted that heterogeneity in design may not currently permit easy replication; the lack of universal dosimetry prevents reproducibility and widespread clinical uptake, consisting limited capacity to deliver trials. Thus, a need for harmonizing parameters, rigorous multi-center trials, and therapy integration exists moving forward to support the uptake of CAP into routine healthcare